Half Elf

Half elves are among the later races to walk the lands of Etharis. Before the Era of Expansion, humans and elves occasionally crossed paths. Some humans could appreciate the beautiful songs and poems of the elves, as the elves could appreciate the adventurous side of humanity. The result of these bonds were the ever-wandering half elves. They are easily noticed by their less pronounced pointed elven ears, combined with a bulkier but still elegant human frame. As with half orcs, half elves seem to have taken the best aspects of their progenitors. Taller than the average man, elegant and graceful, they seem to possess the aptitude for the fine arts from their elven side along with a lust for adventure from their human aspect. What life could be better for them wanderers, traveling artists, and merchants?

However, even though most of the first half elves were the result of love between the two races, such pairings were still considered taboo, by the two sides. In the midst of war, most elves could not understand how someone could fall in love with a savage, while few humans could forgive anyone who could mingle with the enemy. The first half elves were cast out by both sides.

Initially, the lifestyle of the wanderer suited them. Their talent in theatre and music made wandering troupes of half elves among the most famous to exist. Furthermore, half elves could act as natural intermediaries between humans and elves. However, most half elves keep the burdens of their souls well hidden. They learnt how to wear the mask of happiness, often dressing with bright colors and dazzling jewelry, accompanying their stylistic choices with an outwardly flamboyant, optimistic, attitude. But if one is lucky enough to gain the trust of a half elf, they will often see that the heart of a half elf is full of sorrow. Wandering the continent is a lifestyle that fits them, but they can never call any place home. Considered an outcast by both humans and elves, they think themselves cursed, eternally strangers, with no hope of claiming any lands as their own.